The Kent State Communication Studies Program will recognize three distinguished graduates Friday, Oct. 17 at the Centennial Alumni Awards Celebration.

The awards will be presented to the alumni in the Student Center Ballroom Balcony at 5 p.m.

The winners are nominated and chosen by communication studies faculty members, said Margaret Garmon, a communication studies faculty member who is assisting with the event’s coordination. The featured awards are the Centennial Alumni Award, Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Young Professional Award.

Garmon said the Centennial Alumni Award is the highest honor given by the School of Communication Studies. Recipients of the award are either nationally or internationally recognized for their work in fields related to communication, education, scholarship and community. This year’s Centennial Alumni recipient will be Messiah College President Kim S. Phipps, who graduated from Kent State in 1985.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to someone who has made a significant contribution to the field of communication. The award will be presented to Louise Gissendaner from the class of 1989. Gissendaner currently holds a position as the Vice President of Fifth Third Bank.

The Outstanding Young Professional award will be presented to a person who has graduated within the past five years and has demonstrated success in his or her field. Katie Ramunni, from the class of 2009, will be this year’s recipient. Ramunni currently holds a position as a marketing assistant at Cogswell Hall.

Julia Kerchenski at [email protected].